Hello, my name is Joe Philip, and I am glad to present lesson 3, of module one, of our online Basic Evangelization Training. The Module is “Introduction to Evangelization,” and the lesson is “Introduction to Christian Testimony.”
We read stories. We watch stories. We create stories. We think and talk in stories. We know that stories can move us to love, forgive, laugh, and rethink our lives. We also know stories have the power to make us hate, tempt us to sin, confuse us, and even change how we experience the rest of our lives. And right now, we are all living in a story. All of us together are part of a story full of characters, settings, and props…we call that story life! And everyone who’s ever existed is part of a story called “his-story!” His- Story.
Think about it. If we all think, see, share and experience our lives as a story, who’s the author? Who started this thing? Who willed that each of us exist, like a word on a page? And if it’s a story, what kind of story will it turn out to be? Is it a comedy or a tragedy? Can we trust the author to lead us to a happy ending?
We’re not just being poetic here. These are important questions and have much to do with evangelization. As Catholics, like everyone else, we not only live and enjoy stories; we know the power of a good story. We know the good Author behind the best story, the big story that’s unfolding in history and in this moment. As followers of Jesus, we know the plot of the real story of love, sin, death, redemption and salvation that we call the Gospel! And knowing this BIG STORY gives us the ability to clear up the confusion in all the little stories. We have an awesome opportunity to bless and speak encouragement and truth into the lives of those we love and interact with on a daily basis. Our stories and the way we tell them all have the power to bring people closer to God, the Divine Author.
If we believe we are living in a good story, written by a good God, then how we share our lives, how we speak, how we see and interpret experiences – good and bad – will be from the perspective of joy. We not only know the Author, but we know the happy ending that’s waiting for us! So to be an effective evangelist, you need to know the power that flows out of a good story. We need to harness that power and become good story-tellers.
So, before we talk about sharing specific personal stories of God’s transformative love, called testimonies, let’s reflect and get good at telling stories in general with a few questions. Question 1: What are the stories that have shaped how you see yourself, others, and the world? Question 2: As a child, did you enjoy stories? What were the kinds of stories that you read or were read to you? What effect did it have on you? Question 3: Are you a good story-teller?
Now, it’s possible to get better, but it requires practice. So try it out. For practice: Try to retell a story that you loved in a way that it captures how you felt while also being relatable with those to whom you share it. Now, every story is powerful when shared with joy by a follower of Christ! So, go and tell a good one!